Search for: rheumatoid arthritis    methotrexate    autoimmune disease    biomarker    gene expression    GWAS    HLA genes    non-HLA genes   

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
30898582 Discovery and preclinical development of IIIM-160, a Bergenia ciliata-based anti-inflammat 2019 May OBJECTIVE: Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. is used in the Indian traditional system of medicine to treat various ailments including rheumatism and to heal wounds. The objective of the present study was to perform a preclinical characterization of the B. ciliata-based botanical extract IIIM-160. METHODS: IIIM-160 was chemically standardized and analyzed for heavy metal content, aflatoxins, pesticides and microbial load. The in vitro and in vivo efficacies were determined in suitable models of inflammation, arthritis and nociception. An acute oral toxicity study was performed in Swiss albino mice. A suitable oral formulation was developed and characterized. RESULTS: Bergenin was found to be the major component (9.1% w/w) of IIIM-160. The botanical lead displayed inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells, with selectivity toward interleukin-6 (IL-6) and had an excellent safety-window. It showed anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and antinociceptive activity in animal models and was not toxic at oral doses up to 2 g/kg in Swiss-albino mice. The gastroretentive, sustained-release capsule formulation showed sustained-release of the bergenin over the period of 24 h, resulting in improved plasma-exposure of bergenin in Sprague-Dawley rats. CONCLUSION: The dual-activity of IL-6 inhibition and antinociception marks the suitability of IIIM-160 for treating rheumatoid arthritis. This study will serve as the benchmark for further research on this botanical formulation.
31615171 [Application of bone-retaining femoral stem prosthesis in young patients with Dorr C femor 2019 Sep 25 OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of Tri-Lock bio-short prosthesis in artificial total hip arthroplasty(THA) in young patients with Dorr type C femoral medullary cavity. METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2014, 35 young patients(37 hips) with in the chimney-like femoral medullary cavity received Tri-Lock BPS prosthesis of THA, including 18 males(20 hips) and 17 females with an average age of (32.2±3.0) years old ranging from 21.2 to 38.5 years old. There were 16 cases of rheumatoid hip arthritis (17 hips), 8 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (9 hips), and 11 cases of aseptic necrosis of femoral head (11 hips). All cases were complicated with different degrees of osteoporosis. According to Singh index, 26 cases were classified as Grade III and 9 cases as Grade II. Biological prostheses were used for the acetabulum, with ceramic lining and full ceramic femoral head. The proximal femoral medullary cavity was Dorr type C on anteroposterior X-ray. After replacement, X-ray examination was performed to locate the prosthesis stem. Engh and Harris criteria were used to evaluate the stability of bone-prosthesis interface and hip function, respectively. Changes of hip movement pre-operation and at last follow-up were compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 18 to 45 months(means 33.8 months). Harris hip scores in 35 cases (37 hips) increased significantly from preoperative 61.8±3.0 (51.2 to 73.5) to 93.3±6.5 (92.5 to 98.8) points at last follow-up (t=54.745, P<0.01). The hip mobility increased from (46.5±8.0)°(0° to 55°) before surgery to(101.2±10.5)°(85° to 130°) at the last follow-up, the difference was statistically significant(t=133.091, P<0.01). Immediately after surgery, the prostheses were tightly packed with the medullary cavity. At the final follow-up, 17 hips had significant femur cortical bone thickening;12 hips had varying degrees of stress occlusal bone resorption at proximal femoral, including 9 degree I(low femur density, round and blunt) and 3 degree II(involving small rotor) hips. Meanwhile, 15 hips had significant femur cortical bone thickening without thigh pain. CONCLUSIONS: The cone-shaped short Tri-lock biological short-stem can fill Dorr C chimney-like medullary cavity and effectively retain good proximal femoral bone mass. Titanium microporous coating on the surface can effectively increase the friction of the prosthesis. The short-stem end in the medullary cavity can effectively avoid the occurrence of coxa varus.
30455954 Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: a novel confirmatory tool to diagnose asbestos-related pul 2019 Jan Asbestosis is diagnosed with a combination of historical, clinical and radiological findings in the absence of another cause. Histology is required when uncertainty exists, with lung biopsy via VATs being gold standard. Transbronchial cryobiopsy is becoming increasingly popular for diagnosing interstitial lung disease and may provide sufficient lung sample to demonstrate asbestosis. A 73 year old man presented with dyspnoea on a background of rheumatoid arthritis, previous methotrexate use and asbestos exposure. Examination revealed fine crackles in the mid and lower zones bilaterally without signs of pulmonary hypertension. The presence of pleural plaques and basal interstitial reticulation on HRCT was suggestive of asbestosis but histology was required to differentiate this from rheumatoid or methotrexate associated ILD. Samples of lung tissue were obtained via transbronchial cryobiopsy, demonstrating fibrosis and asbestos fibres consistent with asbestosis. Transbronchial cryobiopsy appears effective in obtaining sufficient parenchymal lung samples to diagnose asbestosis when clinical uncertainty exists.
31148950 Mean Platelet Volume (MPV): New Perspectives for an Old Marker in the Course and Prognosis 2019 Platelet size has been demonstrated to reflect platelet activity and seems to be a useful predictive and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular events. It is associated with a variety of prothrombotic and proinflammatory diseases. The aim is a review of literature reports concerning changes in the mean platelet volume (MPV) and its possible role as a biomarker in inflammatory processes and neoplastic diseases. PubMed database was searched for sources using the following keywords: platelet activation, platelet count, mean platelet volume and: inflammation, cancer/tumor, cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction, diabetes, lupus disease, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis, renal disease, pulmonary disease, influencing factors, age, gender, genetic factors, oral contraceptives, smoking, lifestyle, methods, standardization, and hematological analyzer. Preference was given to the sources which were published within the past 20 years. Increased MPV was observed in cardiovascular diseases, cerebral stroke, respiratory diseases, chronic renal failure, intestine diseases, rheumatoid diseases, diabetes, and various cancers. Decreased MPV was noted in tuberculosis during disease exacerbation, ulcerative colitis, SLE in adult, and different neoplastic diseases. The study of MPV can provide important information on the course and prognosis in many inflammatory conditions. Therefore, from the clinical point of view, it would be interesting to establish an MPV cut-off value indicating the intensity of inflammatory process, presence of the disease, increased risk of disease development, increased risk of thrombotic complications, increased risk of death, and patient's response on applied treatment. Nevertheless, this aspect of MPV evaluation allowing its use in clinical practice is limited and requires further studies.
30721990 FcγRIIIA-mediated activation of NK cells by IgG heavy chain complexed with MHC class II m 2019 Apr 26 Natural killer (NK) cells are a major FcγRIIIA-expressing lymphocyte population that mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Although NK cells are critical for immunity against viruses and tumors, they are also activated in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may be involved in disease progression. We previously found that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules transport misfolded cellular proteins, such as IgG heavy chain (IgGH), to the cell surface via association with their peptide-binding grooves. Furthermore, we found that IgGHs bound to HLA class II molecules encoded by RA susceptibility alleles are specific targets for rheumatoid factor, an auto-antibody involved in RA. Here, we report that IgGHs bound to HLA class II molecules preferentially stimulate FcγRIIIA-expressing but not FcγRI-expressing cells. A significant correlation was observed between the reactivity of FcγRIIIA-expressing cells to IgGH complexed with a specific HLA-DR allele and the odds ratio for HLA-DR allele's association with RA. Moreover, primary human NK cells expressing FcγRIIIA demonstrated IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity against cells expressing IgGH complexed with HLA class II molecules. Our findings suggest that IgGH complexed with HLA class II molecules are involved in the activation of FcγRIIIA-expressing NK cells observed within arthritic joints.
31884014 Evaluation of an Immediate-Release Formulation of Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate With an Inter 2020 Apr Hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) is a quinoline used for the prevention and treatment of uncomplicated malaria, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. For each indication, HCQ is an option for treatment of pediatric and juvenile patients on a weight basis; however, no tailored pediatric product is available on the market. Preliminary research confirmed that a slightly buffered, ion-pairing system significantly reduces the bitterness of HCQ, suggesting a high likelihood that a pediatric taste-masking system could be interwoven into an adult immediate-release formulation allowing the creation of a palatable suspension with water using common excipients. Because HCQ is a Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class 1 drug, the pharmacokinetics for an adult immediate-release formulation would not be altered by embeding a taste-masking system. Embedding the taste-masking and suspension agents within the adult tablet formulation would remove the need for aqueous-based vehicles and simplify the creation of a water-based suspension formulation to support improved compliance, dosing accuracy, and health outcomes in pediatric patients who are weight-base dosed with HCQ.
31571969 Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp: challenges and solutions. 2019 Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder defined. It usually affects elderly people and is characterized by extensive pustular lesions, erosions, and crusts located on the scalp. The pathogenesis of this disease is not completely understood, but a known predisposing factor is skin trauma. Autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, Hashimoto thyroiditis, and Takayasu aortitis are associated diseases reported. The clinical examination reveals erythema, erosions, crusts, follicular pustules, and in advanced stages, scarring alopecia. A scalp biopsy is recommended but not specific, founding epidermal atrophy, focal erosions, and a mixed inflammatory infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Bacterial cultures, fungal and viral stains are not necessary and are usually negative. . Topical high-potency corticosteroids, retinoids, calcipotriol, dapsone, and topical tacrolimus are reported treatments, while photodynamic therapy has been effective in some patients, but has induced the disease in others. All the findings are suggestive but not specific, so it is an excluding diagnosis. The combination of predisposing factors is very important for a correct diagnosis, such as elderly age, sun-damaged skin, presence of androgenetic alopecia, together with clinical manifestations, non-specific histology and laboratory investigations negative for other disease. In our opinion, this scalp disease is a challenge for the dermatologist. We review all the literature to better define the possible solutions in case of suspected erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp.
31551672 An Effective Method for Acute Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Experimental Inflammation. 2019 Neural reflexes regulate inflammation and electrical activation of the vagus nerve reduces inflammation in models of inflammatory disease. These discoveries have generated an increasing interest in targeted neurostimulation as treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases. Data from the first clinical trials that use vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease suggest that there is a therapeutic potential of electrical VNS in diseases characterized by excessive inflammation. Accordingly, there is an interest to further explore the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of electrical VNS in a range of experimental settings and available genetic mouse models of disease. Here, we describe a method for electrical VNS in experimental inflammation in mice.
30711025 Physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology of neuropeptide S receptor. 2019 Neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1), originally named G protein-coupled receptor 154 (GPR154), was deorphanized in 2002 with neuropeptide S identified as the endogenous ligand. NPSR1 is primarily expressed in bronchus, brain as well as immune cells. It regulates multiple physiological processes, including immunoregulation, locomotor activity, anxiety, arousal, learning and memory, and food intake and energy balance. SNPs of NPSR1 are significantly associated with several diseases, including asthma, anxiolytic and arousal disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis. This chapter will summarize studies on NPSR1, including its molecular structure, tissue distribution, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology.
31650088 Docetaxel-induced maculopathy possibly potentiated by concurrent hydroxychloroquine use. 2019 Dec PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral non-leaking cystoid macular degeneration induced by docetaxel, possibly potentiated by hydroxychloroquine. OBSERVATIONS: A 63-year-old female patient with a long-term history of rheumatoid arthritis controlled on hydroxychloroquine for 33 years with no evidence of retinopathy developed bilateral loss of vision after having been on docetaxel chemotherapy for breast cancer. Optical coherence tomography showed bilateral cystic maculopathy with no angiographic evidence of leakage on fluorescein angiography. The patient was treated conservatively with no further interventions. Marked improvement of the macular degeneration occurred over the subsequent 9 months, but without visual improvement, although a cataract likely confounded final visual acuity measurement. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Docetaxel-induced maculopathy has been previously reported, but with only four case reports in literature, and most often in conjunction with concurrent therapies or conditions also known to cause macular edema. This is the first case report of docetaxel-induced maculopathy in a setting of hydroxychloroquine therapy which may possibly has potentiated the effect of docetaxel to induce maculopathy. Impaired transcellular retinal pigment epithelial transport might be the cause of non-leaking cystic maculopathy.
31528457 Risk factors for postoperative spinal infection: A retrospective analysis of 5065 cases. 2019 BACKGROUND: Multiple factors increase the risk for spinal surgical site infection (SSI): prior SSI, obesity, diabetes mellitus, advanced age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, alcohol abuse, low prealbumin levels, smoking, history of cancer, chronic steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism. METHODS: Here, we performed a retrospective medical record review at one facility involving 5065 patients from 2010 to 2015. In 2011, there was an increase in the infection rate (1.07%) which prompted this analysis, resulting in the subsequent introduction of a protocol to reduce the infection risk. RESULTS: The overall infection rate in this series was 0.59%. The lowest infection rate was 0.00% for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The highest rate of infections occurred among patients undergoing posterior cervical fusions, lumbar fusions, and tumor resections. Higher infection rates were also correlated with diabetes mellitus, obesity, and increased surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: Since 2011, we instituted a protocol to limit the risks of spinal SSIs, particularly for patients exhibiting increased medical comorbidities.
31933566 Infliximab-induced hot kidneys on bone scintigraphy. 2019 Oct (99m)Technetium-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy is widely used in various clinical settings to detect bone abnormalities. Many reasons may cause abnormal tracer uptake in soft tissues on bone scintigraphy. Here, we present a 70-year-old man diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis receiving chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy (infliximab). In order to evaluate the bone involvement of rheumatic disease, the patient underwent a whole-body bone scan that revealed left side dominant diffuse uptake in both kidneys defined as the "hot kidneys." Since the patient had no other identifiable reason, anti-TNF-α therapy might be responsible for the "hot kidneys" on bone scan. Thus, therapy regiment of the patient changed from the chimeric anti-TNF-α to a human monoclonal TNF inhibitor (golimumab). After 6 months of the change of the therapy, the bone scintigraphy was repeated and revealed that the previous "hot kidneys" finding had disappeared.
31827938 Pyoderma Gangrenosum following Pacemaker Implantation: A Case Report and Review of Literat 2019 Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by noninfectious, inflammatory, ulcerating lesions. Pathergy can be seen in these patients, whereby minor trauma or surgery can result in the development of PG ulcerations. Here, we present a case of PG following pacemaker implantation. A 76-year-old male with a history of rheumatoid arthritis presented to the cardiology team with symptomatic bradycardia. Indications for implantation were met, and the procedure was performed in a routine fashion. The patient returned to clinic for follow-up four days later, complaining of pain at the incision site, coupled with erythema and purulent drainage. Consultations with an infectious disease specialist and a dermatologist were requested, and the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was considered. The patient underwent device removal and received systemic corticosteroids at a dose of 1 mg/kg prednisone with complete lesion healing in 3 weeks. While being maintained on steroids, the patient underwent reimplantation of a new pacemaker on the contralateral side without complication and had a normal postoperative course. We present this case report, along with the review of literature, in order to highlight the multidisciplinary approach to management, which requires dermatologic treatment in order to achieve pacemaker success.
31384955 Itch in Elderly People: A Cross-sectional Study. 2019 Oct 1 Ageing is associated with numerous medical afflictions, including dermatological symptoms and diseases. Chronic itch (CI) in elderly people is a frequent symptom of diverse aetiology. This study assessed the prevalence and detailed clinical features of CI among 153 elderly patients hospitalized in the geriatric ward, including associations with comorbidities and pharmacotherapy. CI affected 35.3% of subjects, most commonly due to cutaneous conditions, mixed aetiology and neurological disorders (53.7%, 25.9% and 11.1% of pruritic subjects, respectively). The mean itch intensity assessed with the 4-Item Itch Questionnaire (4IIQ) was 6.6 ± 2.8 points. Viral hepatitis (p = 0.02), higher serum creatinine concentration (p = 0.02) and coexistent purpuric lesions (p = 0.002) were associated with higher 4IIQ scores. In logistic regression analysis CI correlated positively with female sex, atopic dermatitis, immobility, rheumatoid arthritis and ischaemic neurological diseases, while low-molecular-weight heparins, antipruritic drugs, allergy, rosacea and higher haemoglobin concentration had the contrary effect. CI is a frequent and interdisciplinary problem among elderly subjects, which requires a holistic clinical approach.
30358743 Condylar Resorption After Orthognathic Surgery. 2019 Jan The aim was to postoperatively evaluate a conservative treatment approach to bilateral condylar resorption after orthognathic surgery. A retrospective study was carried out on 730 consecutive patients undergoing sagittal split osteotomy, 2013 to 2016. The mean follow-up period was 2.29 years. Clinical and radiographic findings of patients with postoperative bilateral condylar resorption were searched. Syndromic patients and patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis were excluded from this study. Of the 730 patients, 6 (0.82%) required treatments because of bilateral postoperative condylar resorption but had no surgery at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Five patients with TMJ symptoms because of postoperative condylar resorption were managed with conservative treatment. About 2 of the 6 patients were successfully retreated with orthognathic surgery in the upper jaw to close the open bite. The TMJ symptoms can successfully be managed with conservative therapy, whereas skeletal relapse can be retreated with orthognathic surgery in the upper jaw, depending on the amount of overjet. Patient undergoing orthognathic surgery may develop bilateral condylar resorption though the frequency is <1%, most of these patients can be managed conservatively.
31777822 Risk of Serious Infection in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Biologic Vers 2019 Sep OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the risk of serious infections (SIs) associated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) compared with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We studied patients with RA who initiated bDMARDs or csDMARDs from 2001 to 2016 in FORWARD-The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were categorized into three groups: (1) csDMARDs (bDMARD-naïve; reference), (2) tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFis), and (3) non-TNFi biologics (abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, and anakinra). SIs were defined as those requiring intravenous antibiotics or hospitalization or those resulting in death. We calculated the propensity score (PS), which reflected the probability of receiving a specific DMARD group, and estimated the hazard ratio (HR) (with the 95% confidence interval [CI]) for SI from multivariable Cox models, adjusting for PS and time-varying confounders. RESULTS: A total of 694 (5.9%) first SIs were identified in 11 623 patients with RA during 27 552 patient-years of follow-up. The SI incidence rate per 1000 patient-years was 22.4 (95% CI 19.2-26.1) for csDMARDs, 26.9 (95% CI 24.5-29.6) for TNFis, and 23.3 (95% CI 19.0-28.5) for non-TNFi bDMARDs. Adjusted HRs for SIs were 1.33 (95% CI 1.05-1.68) for TNFis and 1.48 (95% CI 1.02-2.16) for non-TNFi bDMARDs, compared with csDMARDs. The SI risk with non-TNFi bDMARDs versus TNFis was not different. Other risk factors for SI were older age, higher comorbidity burden (particularly pulmonary disease), higher weighted cumulative prednisone dose, disability and disease activity, and number of prior csDMARD failures. CONCLUSION: TNFis and non-TNFi bDMARDs were associated with an increased SI risk compared with csDMARDs in RA, even after accounting for risk-associated patient characteristics.
32038645 Relationships Between Vitamin D, Gut Microbiome, and Systemic Autoimmunity. 2019 There is increasing recognition of the role the microbiome plays in states of health and disease. Microbiome studies in systemic autoimmune diseases demonstrate unique microbial patterns in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus to a lesser extent, whereas there is no single bug or pattern that characterizes Multiple Sclerosis. Autoimmune diseases tend to share a predisposition for vitamin D deficiency, which alters the microbiome and integrity of the gut epithelial barrier. In this review, we summarize the influence of intestinal bacteria on the immune system, explore the microbial patterns that have emerged from studies on autoimmune diseases, and discuss how vitamin D deficiency may contribute to autoimmunity via its effects on the intestinal barrier function, microbiome composition, and/or direct effects on immune responses.
31849989 Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Autoimmunity and Allergy: Immune Complexes at Work. 2019 Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been initially described as main actors in host defense owing to their ability to immobilize and sometimes kill microorganisms. Subsequent studies have demonstrated their implication in the pathophysiology of various diseases, due to the toxic effects of their main components on surrounding tissues. Several distinct NETosis pathways have been described in response to various triggers. Among these triggers, IgG immune complexes (IC) play an important role since they induce robust NET release upon binding to activating FcγRs on neutrophils. Few in vitro studies have documented the mechanisms of IC-induced NET release and evidence about the partners involved is controversial. In vivo, animal models and clinical studies have strongly suggested the importance of IgG IC-induced NET release for autoimmunity and anaphylaxis. In this review, we will focus on two autoimmune diseases in which NETs are undoubtedly major players, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We will also discuss anaphylaxis as another example of disease recently associated with IC-induced NET release. Understanding the role of IC-induced NETs in these settings will pave the way for new diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.
31627706 Glycosylation as an Important Regulator of Antibody Function. 2019 Fall BACKGROUND: The glycosylation of constant regions of antibodies significantly affects their interaction capabilities with immune cells. It is a modification that, in addition to the bio-logical activity of antibodies, has an impact on their conformation, stability, solubility, secretion, pharmaco-kinetics, and immunogenicity. The location of glycosylations on the molecule is essential for the proper function of the antibody, as is the structure of the individual glycans. Changes in the glycosylation profiles of antibodies have been described in some physiological processes like pregnancy or ageing, but also in many pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gastric, lung and prostate tumours. There are still several unexplained mechanisms that control the glycosylation of antibodies or immune responses, which in turn are regulated by these modifications. Multiple sources describe the importance of some specific glycosylations as potential bio-markers. PURPOSE: The aim of this review is to summarise and present the knowledge of the glycosylation of antibodies and to highlight their influence on immune responses and their role dur-ing dis-ease. Their importance is also underlined by the fact that the most of these therapeutic antibodies used and developed are modified by glycosylation. The targeted introduction of appropriate glycosylations, which can promote activities such as antibody--dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody--dependent cellular phagocytosis or complement--dependent cytotoxicity, have improved the ability of these antibodies to kill pathogens or tumour cells. Therefore, more attention is be-ing paid to this area. In the future, more effective tools for dia-gnos-ing and treat-ing certain dis-eases can be created with better knowledge.
31608261 Pandanus fascicularis Lam Extract Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Production in LPS-St 2019 Sep Pandanus fascicularis Lam has been shown to exert to a variety of physiological effects on edema, tumors, leprosy, spasm, inflammation, pain, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, the effects of a P. fascicularis extract on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression and on the production of the inflammatory mediator, nitric oxide (NO), in RAW 264.7 cells were examined. The P. fascicularis extract decreased LPS-induced NO production. Moreover, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that the P. fascicularis extract concentration-dependently suppressed LPS-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These results suggest that the P. fascicularis extract has potential as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic substance for use in the prevention of the inflammatory disorder.